A defensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys has been charged with intoxication manslaughter following an accident in which a fellow teammate was killed, police said Saturday

Police say Josh Brent was speeding when the vehicle he was driving hit a curb and flipped at least once. Linebacker Jerry Brown, a member of the Cowboys practice squad, was in the car at the time and died as a result of the crash.

Irving police spokesman John Argumaniz said the accident happened about 2.20am Saturday in the Dallas suburb.

Argumaniz added that Brown was found unresponsive at the scene and pronounced dead at a hospital.

The police spokesman says officers conducted a field sobriety test on Brent and arrested him. The charge was upgraded after Brown was pronounced dead.

In a statement released by the team, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said: "We are deeply saddened by the news of this accident and the passing of Jerry Brown."

He added: "At this time, our hearts and prayers and deepest sympathies are with the members of Jerry's family and all of those who knew him and loved him."

It is the second death of an NFL player to rock the world of American football in the space of a week.

Last Saturday, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot himself dead in a parking lot at the team's training facility just hours after he killed girlfriend Kassandra Perkins.

In that case, the Kansas team's scheduled Sunday match against the Carolina Panthers went ahead as planned. A moment of silence for the victims of domestic violence was observed by players and fans at the Arrowhead stadium ahead of the kick-off.

The Dallas Cowboys are due to play away at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at noon. Officials at the team said Brent was not on the flight to Ohio for the game.

Brent has played in all 12 games this season and has been a bigger presence on defense with starting nose guard Jay Ratliff battling injuries. He made his first career start the season opener against the New York Giants and has 35 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks.

The Cowboys signed Brown to their practice squad on 24 October, but he hasn't been on the active roster.